Dental records are like fossil DNA. It is one of the few things that science makes no mistakes about when identifying a person-for sure.
As well, it happens to be our “social DNA.”
No matter ones social class, it’s the one thing we look at when sizing up that person standing in front of us (no matter what else). Even a forensic specialist takes into consideration how the deceased, lived-by looking at their teeth!
Typically/usually, we don’t expect a homeless person to converse with us then flash us a pearly white smile and perfect teeth.
Sit back and think about that for a second. You would be taken aback by that happening wouldn’t you?
But guess what-that just might be made possible!
Thanks to some dental students that are volunteering to give the homeless top-quality care of that first impression we use a compass to gauge their lifestyle: their teeth, that visual is sure to happen in somebody’s real life!
As well, they are getting care for their tired feet!
Read on:
Three-year-old Anisa saw a dentist for the first time in her life on Monday, and considering how difficult it is for homeless people to get such care, she’s fortunate she didn’t have to wait any longer.
According to a 2010 National Institutes of Health report, 41 percent of homeless people surveyed said they lacked dental care. They face such overwhelming obstacles in this specific area of health because they typically don’t have insurance, or dentists say they can’t afford to treat them, Slate reported last month.
But some students in Seattle are bridging that gap and say they’re getting the kind of hands-on education no amount of tuition dollars would grant them as a result.
The dental students scoured for cavities and infections — minor issues that could easily evolve into more serious conditions. Twelve kids were sent to a clinic after their checkups for further evaluation.
Homeless people are at a heightened risk for decay and tooth loss, among other dental issues. Medicaid is notoriously challenging for homeless people to obtain, and when they do, the plan is limited when it comes to covering dental health. While Medicaid covers services for all child enrollees, and most states cover emergency care for adults, less than half of the states provide comprehensive dental care for adults.
The students’ work on Monday wasn’t just a one-time offer.
UW students also volunteer with the Neighbor Care Health’s 45th Street Clinic, a primary-care clinic that serves homeless youth, among other low-income populations.
The program was founded in 2005 by a then-student who is now a pediatric dentist and UW faculty member.
The students tend to the patients, and two full-fledged dentists supervise. In addition to offering their services, the students also raise funds for clinical operations and supplies.
The volunteers say they enjoy giving back, and appreciate the added bonus of learning about conditions they wouldn’t otherwise get to see at this stage of their training.
“It’s definitely giving (cont’d)
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